(SEYMOUR) - A Seymour city police officer charged with driving while intoxicated has resigned.

John Newcomb submitted his resignation to Seymour Police Chief Bill Abbot Wednesday afternoon. The Seymour Board of Public Works and Safety accepted the resignation Thursday.

Newcomb did not attend Thursday's meeting.

Newcomb, 38, had been on administrative leave since his arrest late July 27, after he wrecked his car in Salem, where he lived.

Last month, Abbott brought chief's charges against Newcomb before the board of works, including conduct unbecoming an officer and violation of two department rules, "affirmatively promoting a positive public image" and "use and care of property and equipment."

Trooper Travis Baker of the Indiana State Police said as he investigated the wreck he noticed Newcomb smelled of alcohol and that his eyes were "red and glassy," Abbott wrote in his charges.

After admitting to Baker that he had been drinking, Newcomb was asked to perform a couple of standard field sobriety tests, which he failed, Abbott added.

In his charges, Abbott reported Newcomb was "off-duty and driving his privately owned vehicle" when the wreck occurred. However, he was hauling a utility trailer owned by the department, which was damaged beyond repair, Abbott said. The trailer was often used for the department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which is taught to all Seymour fifth-graders.

Abbott requested that Newcomb's employment with the department be terminated at the Aug. 11 board of works meeting. However, because of his pending criminal case in Washington County, the board could not take that action and instead decided to keep him on administrative leave, but without pay.

Newcomb was a four-year veteran of the Seymour Police Department and had served 10 years previously with Salem Police Department. He had worked as the resource officer for Seymour Community Schools.